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<br />
<br />Soil descriptions and potentials
<br />1-Absarokee loam, 3 l0 12 percent slopes. This is
<br />a moderatey deep, well tlrained ;oil that overlies wealli-
<br />ered sandstone at a depth of 20 to 40 inches. It lormed
<br />in material weathered Irom sandstone and is on uplands
<br />and valley side slopes. Elevation ranges Irom 6.800 to
<br />8.500 feet. Average annual precipifaUOn is about 15 to
<br />20 inches, average annual air Temperature is about 44
<br />degrees F, and the average Irosl-free season is about
<br />90 days.
<br />Typically the surlace layer is dark grayish brown loam
<br />about 7 inches thick. The subsoil is brown clay abeul i8
<br />inches thick. The substratum is light brown channery clay
<br />loam. Sandstone is at a depth of about 30 inches.
<br />PermeabiHy is moderately slow, and available water
<br />capacity is low. Elfeclive rooting depth ~s about 20 to 40
<br />inches. Surface runoff is medium. The hazard of erosion
<br />Irom wind is slight and Irom water is moderate.
<br />Included with this soil in mapping are a lew small
<br />areas of Beenom and Work soils. Also included arc
<br />some areas where the surface layer is light clay loam
<br />and small areas whore gravel, cobbles, and stones are
<br />on the suAace.
<br />The nalrve vegetation on this soil consists mainly of
<br />,mbel oak serviceberry, big sagebrush, wheatgrasses,
<br />and biome.
<br />Most areas of this sort are used for grazing of livestock
<br />and wildlde and for recreational purposes. Some areas
<br />are irrigated and are used mainly for hay, small grains.
<br />and pasture.
<br />This soil is suited to short-season crops commonly
<br />grown in the survey area. Extrr:me care is needed to
<br />prevent water and wind erosion. The soil should be kept
<br />in legumes, grasses, or close-groxring crops at feast half
<br />of the lime. Moisture intake rate is moderate, and the
<br />soil should De worked at the proper moisture content.
<br />Land leveling, good management of irrigation water, and
<br />the use of uop residue help to conserve irrigation water,
<br />control erosion, and maintain organic matter content
<br />Using green manure crops and using grasses and le
<br />games in rotation also help l0 maintain organic mallet
<br />content and to control erosion
<br />This soil can be used for irrigated pasture and hay
<br />crops. II is well sailed to smooth bromc, orchardgrass.
<br />intermediate whealgrass, allalla, and clover. Irrigation
<br />can be done by contour ditch, corrugal~on, and !arrow
<br />methods.
<br />Because annual precipitation ~s low and has poor sea-
<br />sonal distribution, this sod is not suited to nonirrigaled
<br />crops. However, nonungared pa:;ture can be planted late
<br />summer and in tall to protect ttie soil Irom erosion and
<br />provide grazing for livestock, it good pasture manage-
<br />ment l5 practiced. Cresletl whealgrass, smOOlh bromc,
<br />pubescent wheargrass, and Kentucky bluegrass are
<br />adapted species.
<br />504 SURVCr
<br />The potential plant community on this sort consists
<br />mainly of Gambel oak, mountain biome, nodding biome,
<br />slender whealgrass, and elk sedge. As range condition
<br />detenaates, mountain biome, noddrny bromc, slender
<br />wheargrass, and elk sedge decrease, and (orbs and
<br />woody shrubs increase, and undesirable weetls and
<br />annual plants invade and become more abundant.
<br />Seedrrg is advisable it range is m poor condition. Sleet
<br />der wheargrass and western whealgrass are suitable for
<br />seeding. Grasses that meal the seasonal requrremcnl:;
<br />of Iwestock shoulJ be selected Prepanny a scudbod
<br />and drilling the seed help to obtain the best results. On
<br />some Sles, control of competing shrubs is required to
<br />improve range condition. Seeded or brushed areas
<br />should be lenced.
<br />This sod is used for winter range by mule deer and elk.
<br />Some important plan! species that can be managed for
<br />optimum production are bdlerbrush, mountammahogany,
<br />Gambel oak, serviceberry, and elk sedge. Berry-produc-
<br />ing shrubs are used by black bear This soil provides
<br />habitat for Merriam turkey, blue grouse, and band-railed
<br />pigeon, In favorable years mature Gambel oaks produce
<br />acorns, which are used by Mernam turkey.
<br />If This soil is used for urban development, the m~ .
<br />limltal~on is depth to bedrock. Moderately slow perme-
<br />ability is a limitation to the use of this soil for sepl~c tank
<br />absorption Melds. The limitations can be overcome by
<br />the use of proper design and construction methods.
<br />This sod ism capabddy subclass IVe, ungated and
<br />nonungared.
<br />2-Absarokee•Work loams, 6 to 25 percent slopes.
<br />These moderately sloping to moderately sleep sods are
<br />on uplands and valley sitlc slopes. Elevation ranges Irom
<br />6,800 l0 8,500 leer. Average annual preapitat~on is
<br />about i' inches, average annual air lemperarrrre rs atdul
<br />44 degrees F, and the average Trost-free season
<br />about 90 days.
<br />The Absarokee soil makes up about a0 percent of Ihrs
<br />complex and is on the steeper side slopes and en small
<br />ridges. The Work sod makes up about a0 percent and is
<br />in depressions and swales.
<br />Included willr this complex in mapping are a lew small
<br />areas of Beenom, Kech, Proyresso. and Potts sodb and
<br />Fluvents, Ilooded. Also included arc some areas where
<br />the surlace layer rs tight clay loam or sandy loam and
<br />small areas where gravel, cobbles. aid sioncs are on
<br />the surface. The included areas make up 20 percem of
<br />the complex.
<br />The Absarokee sod is moderately deep and viol!
<br />tlrained and ovcrhes sandstone at a depth of 20 to ~0
<br />etches II formed m material weathered Irom sandslc
<br />Typically the surlace layer of the Absarokee soil ~s
<br />dark grayish brown loam about 7 inches IliiCh. Tlie sub
<br />soil is brown clay about 18 inches th~ek. The substratum
<br />~s lighi brown channery clay loam Sandstone ~s at a
<br />depth of auoul 30 inches.
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